Unique test drive day held by Kelston

BY CHARL BOSCH - OCTOBER 30, 2014

In recognition of Breast Cancer Awareness month, the Kelston Motor Group held a special test drive day at his Peugeot / Citroen showroom, situated at 333 Cape Road in Port Elizabeth, during mid-October, where guests had the opportunity of enjoying a cupcakes and coffee breakfast, as well as experiencing a selection of vehicles on a specially laid test route around town.

On offer from Citroen were the C3, C4 Aircross and DS3 while offerings from Peugeot included the 208, 508 and RCZ.

Knowing that time would not permit me to drive all six, I opted to start with the 208 having been quite keen to find out what sets it apart from its biggest rivals, the Volkswagen Polo, Renault Clio and the Ford Fiesta.

Our Active spec test model came fitted with a 1.2-litre three cylinder petrol engine making 60 kW and 118 N.m. Despite my preconceived notions, the little three pot engine pulled well, while keeping it on the boil proofed no hassle thanks to a slick shifting five-speed manual box.

With its target market leaning mainly towards young people, the interior of the 208 defiantly impressed with a large touchscreen infotainment system dominating the centre stack. Material quality felt good while the ride was comfortable for a car in this class.

After the petite and funky nature of the 208, I opted to set my hair on fire with a ride in the sporty RCZ coupe.

Touted as a rival for the Audi TT, the stunning looking RCZ attracted a lot of attention and proved to be the car many wanted to drive, and for good reason.

Powered by a turbocharged 1.6-litre petrol engine, delivering 147 kW and 275 N.m, the RCZ proved that small didn’t mean boring. The turbo surge from low down the rev-range will leave a constant smile on your face. Likewise, the the six-speed manual box is an absolute peach with a slick shifting action and a mechanical, almost metallic, feel about it.

For my last ride, I went for the multi-World Rally Championship (WRC) winning DS3, which, as turned out, used the same engine and drivetrain combo as its 208 sibling.

Unlike the 208 however, the funkier DS3 features a harder ride-setup, hinting at of touch sportiness, a more direct steering setup and a fully customisable interior and exterior. Watch-out for a full-on road test of these vehicles in the future.

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